MINNEAPOLIS -- Pitching is the backbone of the Minnesota
Twins, and this year's All-Star rosters provided further proof.
Starting pitcher Johan Santana, the defending American League Cy
Young Award winner, and closer Joe Nathan were named to the AL
All-Star team on Sunday, and center fielder Torii Hunter is one of
five players who could be added to the roster based on another
round of fan voting.
Santana, who is 7-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 17 starts this year,
leads the major leagues with 140 strikeouts and was named to his
first All-Star team.
"It's an honor to have the opportunity to be around all those
All-Stars," Santana said. "This is something to remember and
hopefully I can represent the Twins the way I should. I definitely
will have fun."
Nathan, who converted 44 of 47 save opportunities last year,
made his second consecutive All-Star team. He's 1-3 with a 3.57 ERA
and has 23 saves in 25 chances this season.
"This year definitely was a little bit harder. It definitely
means a lot more for me because this hasn't been the easiest,"
said Nathan, who's been hit hard in non-save situations but earned
his AL-leading 23rd save on Sunday with a 1-2-3 ninth inning
against the Devil Rays.
The Twins entered play on Sunday with the third-best team ERA in
the American League at 3.67 and they lead the league in complete
games and fewest walks allowed. The last time the Twins had two
pitchers on the All-Star team was in 2001, when Joe Mays and Eric
Milton represented Minnesota.
Nathan, who was the Twins' lone All-Star last year, said he
looks forward to being joined by a teammate this year, while
Santana said it was only natural that the pitching staff earned the
honors.
"That lets you know right there the kind of pitching we have.
It's just what we do. We go about our business," Santana said.
"Every time I pitch I know I can give the ball to the pen and sit
back and watch those guys."
Another member of the bullpen, rookie Jesse Crain, had All-Star
caliber numbers, with an 8-0 record and a 1.41 ERA, but it's not
often that middle relievers are granted All-Star status.
"A couple of us down there deserve to go," Nathan said.
"Crain sticks out the most, but he'll have his time."
Meanwhile, Hunter could earn his second All-Star berth if he
wins a poll to select the final AL roster spot. Fans have until
Wednesday night to cast their votes, choosing from Hunter, Tampa
Bay's Carl Crawford, Chicago's Scott Podsednik, and Derek Jeter and
Hideki Matsui of the Yankees.
Hunter started the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, and is
batting .266 with a team-high 14 home runs, 51 RBIss and 19 stolen
bases this season. He said he's happy for his teammates who will
play in this year's game on July 12 at Detroit, but he's looking
forward to rest and time with his family if he's not added to the
roster.
"If I don't, I get to go home and rest my body," Hunter said.
"I'll just play with little Torii and beat him up a little bit."